Camera having a monitor

ABSTRACT

A camera comprises an electronic image-pickup apparatus and a silver-salt photography apparatus for recording a subject image on a silver-salt film. The electronic image-pickup apparatus comprises an area sensor for converting a subject image to an electric signal and an LCD monitor for displaying an image signal generated from the area sensor. The area sensor 1captures an image synchronously when the silver-salt photography apparatus records the subject image on the silver-salt film. When a self-timer photography mode setup switch is pressed to enable a self-timer photography mode, capturing an image through the area sensor and displaying the captured image on the LCD monitor are repeated during the self-timer photography mode.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/535,414 filed Mar. 24,2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,411,780.

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority fromthe prior Japanese Patent Application No. 11-093793, filed Mar. 31,1999, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a camera having an electronicimage-pickup element for capturing a subject image and converting it toan electric signal and a monitor for displaying the image based on animage signal generated from the electronic image-pickup element.

Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 7-074992 discloses an electroniccamera having an electronic view finder. Basically, power is supplied tothe electronic view finder of this electronic camera. When theself-timer photography starts, the electronic view finder is turned off.

Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 1-114169 or Jpn. Pat. Appln.KOKAI Publication No. 10-108054 discloses a camera for both silver-saltphotography and electronic photography. This camera is provided with anelectronic image-pickup apparatus for converting a subject image to anelectrical signal and a silver-salt photography apparatus for recordingthe subject image on a silver-salt film. This camera performs electronicimage pickup in synchronization with silver-salt photography anddisplays a captured electronic image on a monitor.

When the electronic view finder is replaced by a monitor for theelectronic camera disclosed in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No.7-074992 and this system is applied to a silver-salt camera having amonitor, the monitor is always supplied with power. This powerconsumption shortens a battery life. A possible solution is to power themonitor only when a photography start signal (release signal) isgenerated. This makes it impossible to determine a composition byviewing the monitor in a self-timer photography mode.

Neither Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 1-114169 nor Jpn. Pat.Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 10-108054 describes camera operations inthe self-timer photography mode.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention incorporates these considerations and aims atproviding a camera that allows an easy-to-use self-timer photographymode without consuming a camera battery.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provideda camera, comprising:

an electronic image-pickup apparatus having an electronic image-pickupelement for capturing a subject image and converting it to an electricsignal and a monitor for displaying the captured image based on an imagesignal generated from the electronic image-pickup element;

a silver-salt photography apparatus for recording a subject image on asilver-salt film;

self-timer photography mode setup means for enabling a self-timerphotography mode; and

control means for controlling the electronic image-pickup apparatus toperform a photography operation in synchronization with recording on thesilver-salt film by means of the silver-salt photography apparatus,wherein

capturing an image by means of the electronic image-pickup apparatus anddisplaying the captured image on the monitor are repeated while theself-timer photography mode setup means enable the self-timerphotography mode.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provideda camera comprising:

silver-salt photography means for recording a subject image on asilver-salt film;

electronic image-pickup means for capturing an image equivalent to animage recorded on the silver-salt film in synchronization with anoperation of the silver-salt photography means;

a monitor for displaying an image captured by the electronicimage-pickup means; and

self-timer photography mode setup means for enabling a self-timerphotography mode that allows the silver-salt photography means to startan exposure after a specified time from a specified timing, wherein

capturing an image by means of the electronic image-pickup means anddisplaying the captured image on the monitor are repeated while theself-timer photography mode setup means enable the self-timerphotography mode.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provideda camera, comprising:

an electronic image-pickup element for capturing a subject image andconverting it to an electric signal;

a monitor for displaying the captured image based on an image signalgenerated from the electronic image-pickup element;

a self-timer photography mode setup unit for enabling a self-timerphotography mode; and

a controller for executing a repetition of converting the subject imageto an electric signal by means of the electronic image-pickup apparatusand displaying the image on the monitor while the self-timer photographymode setup unit enables the self-timer photography mode.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth inthe description which follows, and in part will be obvious from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectsand advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means ofthe instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed outhereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate presently preferred embodiments ofthe invention and, together with the general description given above andthe detailed description of the preferred embodiments given below, serveto explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view showing an external view of a camerafor both silver-salt photography and electronic photography to which acamera according to a first embodiment of the present invention isapplied;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing that a strobe light unit pops upfrom the camera for the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the camera for the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an operational flowchart of the camera for the firstembodiment;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a photography sequence subroutine in FIG. 4;and

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a photography sequence subroutine in a camerafor both silver-salt photography and electronic photography to which acamera according to a second embodiment of the present invention isapplied.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail, withreference to the accompanying drawings.

[1st Embodiment]

FIGS. 1 and 2 show external views of a camera for both silver-saltphotography and electronic photography to which a camera according tothe first embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the rear of the camera housing astrobe light unit 11. The upper left of the camera is provided with apower switch 12 that turns a camera power on or off. The upper right ofthe camera is provided with a release button 13 and a photography modebutton 14. The release button 13 starts an operation of a silver-saltphotography apparatus and an electronic image-pickup apparatus. Thephotography mode button 14 works as an operation switch for enabling ordisabling a photography mode. The strobe light unit 11 can pop up fromthe camera and contains a strobe generator. The rear of the camera isprovided with an eyepiece opening 15, a liquid crystal display (LCD)monitor 16, and a zoom-up/back operation button 17. The eyepiece opening15 is used with an optical finder for viewing a subject image based onsubject light passing through photographic lenses. The LCD monitor 16displays the subject image based on a picture signal generated from animage-pickup element. The zoom-up/back operation button 17 is used formanually changing a focal length of a zoom lens.

FIG. 2 shows that the strobe light unit 11 pops up. It mechanically popsup synchronously when the power switch 12 is turned on. A remote controlsignal receiver opening 18 is provided at a specified location on thefront of the camera for receiving a remote control signal from a remotecontrol transmitter (not shown).

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of this camera for both silver-saltphotography and electronic photography.

This camera for both silver-salt photography and electronic photographycomprises a portion associated with a silver-salt photography apparatusand a portion associated with an electronic image-pickup apparatus.

First, the following describes the portion associated with thesilver-salt photography apparatus as silver-salt photography means.

Photographic lenses include a positive lens 19 and a negative lens 20for forming a subject image. A diaphragm mechanism 21 is placed betweenthese photographic lenses. A diaphragm drive circuit 22 drives andcontrols the diaphragm mechanism 21. A movable mirror 23 is provided atthe rear of the negative lens 20. An approximate center of the movablemirror 23 forms a half mirror. A sub-mirror 24 is provided at the rearcenter of the movable mirror 23 for reflecting the subject lightdownward. A separator optical system 25 comprising two optical systemsis provided toward an optical axis direction (approximately toward avertical direction in FIG. 3) of reflected light from the sub-mirror 24.The separator optical system 25 separates two images. A line sensor 26is provided at a position where the separator optical system 25 forms asubject image. This line sensor 26 is connected to a line sensor drivecircuit 27. The sub-mirror 24, the separator optical system 25, the linesensor 26, and the like configure a focus detection apparatus accordingto a known phase contrast method. Based on a signal received from theline sensor drive circuit 27, a CPU 28 as a controller finds a distancebetween two images and computes drive amount data for drivingphotographic lenses to a focusing position. This drive amount istransmitted to a zoom/focus drive circuit 29 and is used for changingfocal points of the photographic lenses 19 and 20. This zoom/focus drivecircuit 29 includes drive sources such as a known electromagnetic motor,ultrasonic motor, and the like, a driver circuit for controlling thesedrive sources, an encoder for detecting lens positions, and the like.

An optical finder 30 is provided along a reflected optical path from themovable mirror 23. The optical finder 30 comprises a focusing screen 31,a pentaprism 32, a finder eyepiece optical system 33, and the eyepieceopening 15. This embodiment uses the optical finder 30 in addition tothe LCD monitor 16 for monitoring a subject. This is because the cameracan be more stably held to easily prevent a camera shake when a cameraoperator takes a picture by viewing the optical finder 30 rather thanthe LCD monitor 16.

A mirror drive circuit 34 drives the movable mirror 23. A shutter drivecircuit 36 drives a shutter 35. When the movable mirror 23 rises torelease the shutter 35, a subject image is formed and recorded on asilver-salt film 37. The CPU 28 computes a diaphragm value for thediaphragm mechanism 21 and a shutter speed for an optimum exposure basedon a subject luminance generated from an area sensor drive circuit 38(described later), a film speed detected by a film speed detectioncircuit (not shown), and a program chart (not shown). The computedshutter speed drives and controls the shutter 35.

A magnetic recording layer (not shown) is developed on the silver-saltfilm 37. A magnetic head 39 is placed so that it touches the magneticrecording layer. The magnetic head 39 magnetically records various typesof information. An output from a magnetic head drive circuit 40 drivesthe magnetic head 39. The camera also contains a film drive circuit 41.When a fame of photography is complete, the film drive circuit 41 windsthe silver-salt film 37. The magnetic head 39 performs magneticrecording during this wind operation.

A switch input unit 42 comprises a plurality of switches includingoperation switches such as a first release switch 43 that turns onsynchronously with a half press of the release button 13, a secondrelease switch 44 that turns on synchronously with a full press of therelease button 13, a self-timer photography mode setup switch 45, and adetection switch for mechanical operations. The self-timer photographymode setup switch 45 functions as a mode setup unit, self-timerphotography mode setup means, and a self-timer photography mode releaseunit.

Generally, the self-timer photography mode starts recording on specifiedrecording media after a specified time lapse from a specified timing. Aspecified timing here means a timing to operate the release button 13.Specified recording media include a silver-salt film for a silver-saltphotography camera, or semiconductor memory, (optical) magnetic disk,and the like for an electronic image-pickup camera (also called anelectronic camera or digital camera). In this embodiment, the specifiedtiming also refers to a timing when a remote control signal receptioncircuit 46 including a photo sensor receives a normal remote controlsignal from a remote control transmitter 100 via the remote controlsignal receiver opening 18.

Then, the following describes the portion associated with the electronicimage-pickup apparatus as electronic image-pickup means.

Photographic lenses include a positive lens 48 and a negative lens 49for forming a subject image on an area sensor 47 as an electronicimage-pickup element. A fixed diaphragm mechanism 50 is placed betweenthese photographic lenses. The area sensor drive circuit 38 controls thearea sensor 47, converts the formed subject image to an analog imagesignal, and outputs this signal to a signal processing circuit 51. Thesignal processing circuit 51 performs specified signal processingincluding conversion of the analog image signal to a digital signal.

An output from the signal processing circuit 51 is stored in DRAM 52 andis displayed on the LCD monitor 16. The DRAM 52 is volatile memorycapable of high-speed writing. The signal processing circuit 51 can readthe processed signal from the DRAM 52 at a specified timing fortransferring and storing it in flash memory 53 (nonvolatile memory) anddisplay a captured image on the LCD monitor 16. The flash memory 53 iselectrically rewritable. When the power switch 12 is turned off, theelectronic image written in the flash memory 53 is retained. The flashmemory 53 is used for storing electronic images.

An angle of view for image-pickup for the image-pickup lenses 48 and 49is almost same as that for the photography lenses 19 and 20 used for thesilver-salt photography apparatus when these photography lenses provideshortest focuses (wide angles). When the zoom/focus drive circuit 29changes focal lengths of the lenses 19 and 20, enlarging or reducing theprocessed electronic image (electronic zoom) causes an electronic imagedisplayed on the LCD monitor 16 to be equivalent to a latent imagerecorded on the silver-salt film 37. An equivalent image here means anessentially same image, not a completely same image. Namely, it isimpossible to generate precisely the same image due to a parallax andthe like in actual processing. However, it is possible to generatealmost the same image.

In the pop-up strobe light unit 11, an output from a strobe circuit 54causes a discharge tube 55 to emit light. A reflector 56 reflects theemitted light. The reflected light is converged through a Fresnel lens57 and is irradiated to the subject. An angle of view for strobe lightemission is almost same as that for photography when the photographylenses 19 and 20 used for the silver-salt photography apparatus provideshortest focuses (wide angles).

Unquestionably, it is possible to match an angle of view forimage-pickup for the area sensor 47 to an angle of view for strobe lightemission in synchronization with a zoom operation of the photographylenses 19 and 20 used for the silver-salt photography apparatus.

A data bus 58 connects the above-mentioned diaphragm drive circuit 22,the line sensor drive circuit 27, the zoom/focus drive circuit 29, themirror drive circuit 34, the shutter drive circuit 36, the magnetic headdrive circuit 40, the film drive circuit 41, the remote control signalreception circuit 46, the signal processing circuit 51, the DRAM 52, theflash memory 53, and the strobe circuit 54 for exchanging data. The CPU28 centrally controls operations of each of these circuits.

The following describes operations of the camera for both silver-saltphotography and electronic photography according to this embodimentconfigured as mentioned above with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 4.

Turning on the power switch 12 of the camera initiates a sequence ofthis flowchart. A timer (not shown) in the CPU 28 is reset and started(step S1). This timer is a counter that is incremented at a specifiedinterval. The counter starts counting the time-when the counter value iszero-cleared (reset). Reading this counter value provides an elapsedtime from a point when the counter starts counting.

Then, the CPU 28 checks if the first release switch 43 is activated(step S2). When the first release switch 43 is activated, execution ispassed to step S5 to be described later. When the first release switchis inactive, the CPU 28 checks if the remote control signal receptioncircuit 46 has received a remote control signal (step S3).

When the remote control signal is received, the CPU 28 checks if flagF_SELF in the CPU 28 is set (step S4). Flag F_SELF is set when thecamera is set to the self-timer photography mode. When flag F_SELF isset to 1, a photography sequence is executed (step S5). The photographysequence is described in details later. Namely, execution is passed tothe photography sequence when the first release switch 43 is activatedor when a remote control signal is received in the self-timerphotography mode. Namely, a remote control signal can be accepted onlywhen the camera is set to the self-timer photography mode.

When no remote control signal is received in step S3 or when a remotecontrol signal is received with the self-timer photography mode not setin step S4, the CPU 28 checks if the self-timer photography mode setupswitch 45 is activated (step S6).

When the self-timer photography mode setup switch 45 is activated instep S6, the CPU 28 checks if flag F_SELF is set to enable theself-timer photography mode currently (step S7). When the self-timerphotography mode is already enabled, flag F_SELF is cleared to disablethe self-timer photography mode (step S8). When the self-timerphotography mode is not enabled, flag F_SELF is set to enable theself-timer photography mode (step S9), and the timer is reset to start(step S10).

After flag F_SELF is cleared at step 8, after the timer is reset tostart at step S10, or when the self-timer photography mode setup switch45 is not enabled at step S6, the CPU 28 checks if flag F_is set (stepS11).

When flag F_SELF is not set at step S11, the CPU 28 checks if thecounter value is greater than or equal to five minutes after the timerstarts counting (step S12). When the counter value is smaller than fiveminutes, execution returns to step S2, repeating the same processing.When the counter value is greater than or equal to five minutes,execution proceeds to so-called a stop mode. This mode issues aninstruction to turn off the indication, turns off the LCD monitor 16(step S13), and then stops the CPU 28. The stop mode is released byoperating the power switch 12, the release button 13, the photographymode button 14, and the like. In step S13, the indication is turned offindependently of whether the LCD monitor is turned on. Apparently, it ispossible to turn off the indication only when the LCD monitor is turnedon.

When flag F_SELF is set at step S11, the CPU 28 checks if the countervalue is greater than or equal to 10 minutes after the timer startscounting (step S14). When the counter value is greater than or equal to10 minutes, flag F_SELF is cleared to disable the self-timer photographymode (step S15), the LCD monitor 16 is turned off (step S16), and thenexecution returns to step S2.

When the counter value is smaller than 10 minutes, the CPU 28 checks ifthe timer counted the next 100 ms (step S17). When the timer does notcount 100 ms, execution returns to step S2. When the timer has counted100 ms, step 18 and a succeeding sequence are performed every 100 ms.

An image-pickup instruction signal is issued to the area sensor drivecircuit 38 (step S18). The area sensor drive circuit 38 controlsimage-pickup operations. In response to the image-pickup instructionsignal, the area sensor drive circuit 38 allows the area sensor 47 tostart an image-pickup operation. When the area sensor 47 completes theimage-pickup operation, the area sensor drive circuit 38 sends a captureenable signal to the signal processing circuit 51. When receiving thiscapture enable signal, the signal processing circuit 51 captures ananalog image signal from the area sensor 47 and converts it to digitalimage data according to a known method (step S19). The digital imagedata is processed according to specified signal processing such as aconversion to display data, and then is transmitted to and stored in theDRAM 52 (step 520). A display operation is directed to the signalprocessing circuit 51. The LCD monitor 16 is turned on and displays thecaptured image (step S21). Then, execution returns to step S2 to repeatthe same processing. In step S21, a power-on operation for the LCDmonitor 16 takes place only for the first sequence. Because the LCDmonitor 16 is already turned on for the second and succeeding sequences,a power-on operation is omitted and the displayed image is just updated.Accordingly, an image-pickup operation occurs every 100 ms and thecaptured image is displayed on the LCD monitor 16.

The camera operates as follows according to the above-mentionedprocessing.

Execution is passed to a photography sequence (described later) when thefirst release switch 43 is pressed according to step S2 or S5, or whenthe remote control signal reception circuit 46 receives a specifiedremote control signal.

Processing in step S6 or S10 enables or disables the self-timerphotography mode each time the self-timer photography mode setup switch45 is operated.

Processing for step S17 or S21 sets the camera to the self-timerphotography mode. After the camera enters the self-timer photographymode, an image-pickup operation occurs repeatedly every 100 ms. Acaptured image is displayed on the LCD monitor 16. A camera operator caneasily set a composition by viewing a display on the LCD monitor 16.When determining the composition, the camera operator can press thefirst release switch 43, and then move to the inside of an areacorresponding to the determined composition to photograph himself orherself as well. Alternatively, when determining the composition, thecamera operator can move to the inside of an area corresponding to thedetermined composition, and then operate the remote control transmitter100 to allow the remote control signal reception circuit 46 to receive aspecified remote control signal for photographing himself or herself aswell.

The self-timer photography mode turns off 10 minutes later afterprocessing for step S14 or S16 enables this mode. The display of the LCDmonitor 16 also turns off, thus minimizing the battery consumption.

Further, the stop mode takes effect five minutes later to minimize thebattery consumption when no operation occurs after steps S12 and S13.When execution proceeds to step S12 ten minutes later after theself-timer photography mode is enabled, the decision whether fiveminuets have passed results in YES because ten minutes have alreadypassed. The stop mode takes effect immediately.

The following describes a photography sequence subroutine that is calledat step S5 with reference to FIG. 5.

The area sensor 47 performs photometry and the area sensor drive circuit38 outputs a subject brightness value (step S51). This value is enteredto the CPU 28 via the signal processing circuit 51. The CPU 28 finds adistance between two images based on a signal entered via the linesensor drive circuit 27 and computes drive amount data for movingphotography lenses to focusing positions (step S52). The drive amountdata is transferred to the zoom/focus drive circuit 29 to updatefocusing positions for photography lenses 19 and 20. The CPU 28 computesa diaphragm value and a shutter speed for the diaphragm mechanism 21that provides an optimum exposure according to a known art (step S53).This computation is based on the subject brightness value found at stepS51, the program chart and the like (not shown), and a film speeddetected by the film speed detection circuit (not shown).

The CPU 28 checks if the remote control signal reception circuit 46receives a remote control signal (step S54). Namely, this stepdetermines whether the photography sequence is called due to receptionof a remote control signal with the camera set to the self-timerphotography mode or is called just due to an operation of the firstrelease switch 43.

When no remote control signal is received, namely, A when thephotography sequence is called due to an operation of the first releaseswitch 43, the CPU 28 checks a state of the second release switch 44(step S55). When this switch remains off, the CPU 28 checks a state ofthe first release switch 43 (step S56). When the first release switch 43also remains off, the CPU 28 resets and starts the timer (step S57) andexecution returns to the main routine in FIG. 4. When the first releaseswitch 43 is turned on, execution returns to step S55.

When-step S55 determines that the second release switch 44 is turned on,the CPU 28 checks if flag F_SELF is set (step S58). When flag F_SELF isset or when step S54 determines that a remote control signal isreceived, the CPU 28 provides a delay (step S59). Then, the CPU 28zero-clears flag F_SELF to release the self-timer photography mode (stepS60). The delay is approximately ten seconds for the self-timerphotography mode when the release button 13 is pressed. Alternatively,the delay is approximately three seconds for the remote controlphotography. A self-timer indication (not shown) blinks at a specifiedinterval until the delay expires.

After this state or when flag F_SELF is not set at step S58, an outputfrom the diaphragm drive circuit 22 stops the diaphragm mechanism 21down to an aperture value computed at step S53 (step S61). Thereafter,an output from the mirror drive circuit 34 places the movable mirror 23outside a photographic optical path (step S62).

Concurrently, the CPU 28 sends an image-pickup instruction signal to thearea sensor drive circuit 38 (step S63). The area sensor drive circuit38 controls image-pickup operations. In response to the image-pickupinstruction signal, the area sensor drive circuit 38 allows the areasensor 47 to start an image-pickup operation. When the area sensor 47completes the image-pickup operation, the area sensor drive circuit 38sends a capture enable signal to the signal processing circuit 51.

An output from the shutter drive circuit 36 drives the shutter 35 toprovide a shutter speed value computed at step S53 (step S64).

When receiving the capture enable signal, the signal processing circuit51 captures an analog image signal from the area sensor 47 and convertsthe analog image signal to digital image data according to a knownmethod (step S65). The digital image data is processed according tospecified signal processing such as a conversion to display data, andthen is transmitted to and stored in the DRAM 52 (step S66).

Because the movable mirror 23 is moved at step S62, the CPU 28 restoresthe movable mirror 23 to a normal position within the photographicoptical path (step S67). Because the diaphragm mechanism 21 stops downat step S61, the CPU 28 restores the diaphragm mechanism 21 to a freestate (step S68). Then, an output from the film drive circuit 41 windsthe silver-salt film 37 for one frame (step S69). At this time, themagnetic head 39 magnetically records specified data on a magneticrecording layer of the silver-salt film 37 according to a known art. Adetailed description about this art is omitted.

Thereafter, the CPU 28 issues a display operation to the signalprocessing circuit 51, turns on the LCD monitor 16, and displays thecaptured image on the LCD monitor 16 (step S70). When the LCD monitor 16is already turned on at step 70, the captured image is simply updatedwithout the power-on operation. Then, the CPU 28 compresses the digitalimage data stored in the DRAM 52 (step S71) and stores the compresseddigital image data in the flash memory 53 (step S72). Then, executionproceeds to step S57, resets to start the timer, and returns to the mainroutine in FIG. 4.

The photography sequence subroutine described above allows the LCDmonitor 16 to display a captured photographic image.

Instead of a captured image that is displayed and updated every 100 msas described above, the self-timer photography mode allows the LCDmonitor 16 to display a photographic image that is taken insynchronization with the self timer. In step S60, flag F_SELF is clearedto release the self-timer photography mode.

[2nd Embodiment]

The following describes the second embodiment of the present invention.

The second embodiment employs the same camera configuration and mainroutine operations as those for the first embodiment. Accordingly, thedescription about the camera configuration and main routine operationsis omitted here.

FIG. 6 shows a photography sequence subroutine for the camera for bothsilver-salt photography and electronic photography to which a cameraaccording to the second embodiment of the present invention is applied.This subroutine is void of step S60 for clearing flag F_SELF that isfound in the photography sequence subroutine for the first embodiment.

Omitting step S60 maintains the self-timer photography mode even afterperforming the self-timer photography in this mode. When the self-timerphotography requires a plurality of successive frames, it is unnecessaryto repeatedly press the photography mode button 14.

Obviously, the second embodiment makes it possible to omit step S70 thatdisplays the captured image.

Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to thoseskilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its-broader aspects isnot limited to the specific details, and representative devices shownand described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be madewithout departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventiveconcept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A camera, comprising: an electronic image-pickupapparatus having an electronic image-pickup element for capturing asubject image and converting the subject image to an electric imagesignal, a volatile memory for temporarily storing the image signal, amonitor for displaying the captured image based on an image signalstored in the volatile memory, and a nonvolatile memory for storing theimage signal after subjecting the image signal stored in the volatilememory to a compressing process; a silver-salt photography apparatus forrecording the subject image on a silver-salt film by exposing thesilver-salt film; self-timer photography mode setup means for enabling aself-timer photography mode; and control means for causing saidelectronic image-pickup apparatus to perform a photography operation insynchronization with recording on the silver-salt film by means of saidsilver salt photography apparatus, and storing the image signal in thenonvolatile memory, said control means repeatedly causing saidelectronic image-pickup apparatus to capture an image and the monitor todisplay the image without subjecting the image signal to the compressingprocess and without storing the image signal in the nonvolatile memorywhile the self-timer photography mode is enabled by means of saidself-timer photography mode setup means.
 2. The camera according toclaim 1, further comprising; an optical finder for viewing a subject. 3.The camera according to claim 1, wherein said electronic image-pickupapparatus stops capturing images and the monitor stops displaying thecaptured images after a specified delay from a time when the self-timerphotography mode is enabled.
 4. The camera according to claim 1, whereina release operation in the self-timer photography mode allows saidsilver-salt photography apparatus to start an exposure operation after aspecified delay.
 5. The camera according to claim 1, wherein receiving arelease signal from a remote control transmitter in the self-timerphotography mode allows said silver-salt photography apparatus to startan exposure operation after a specified delay.
 6. A camera comprising:silver-salt photography means for recording a subject image on asilver-salt film; electronic image-pickup means for capturing an imageequivalent to an image recorded on the silver salt film insynchronization with an operation of said silver-salt photography means,said image corresponding to an image signal; a volatile memory fortemporarily storing the image signal; a nonvolatile memory for storingthe image signal after subjecting the image signal stored in thevolatile memory to a compressing process; a monitor for displaying animage captured by said electronic image-pickup means stored in thevolatile memory; and self-timer photography mode setup means forenabling a self-timer photography mode that allows said silver-saltphotography means to start an exposure after a specified time from aspecified timing, wherein capturing an image by means of said electronicimage-pickup means and displaying the captured image on said monitor arerepeated while said self-timer photography mode setup means enable theself-timer photography mode without subjecting the image signal to thecompressing process and without storing the image signal in thenonvolatile memory while the self-timer photography mode is enabled bymeans of the self-timer photography mode setup means.
 7. The cameraaccording to claim 6, further comprising: an optical finder for viewinga subject.
 8. The camera according to claim 6, wherein said electronicimage-pickup means stop capturing images and said monitor stopsdisplaying the captured images after a specified delay from a time whenthe self-timer photography mode is enabled.
 9. The camera according toclaim 6, wherein the specified timing refers to a timing when a releaseoperation is initiated.
 10. The camera according to claim 6, wherein thespecified timing refers to a timing when a remote control signal isreceived from a remote control transmitter.
 11. A camera comprising: anelectronic image-pickup element for capturing a subject image andconverting the subject image to an electric image signal; a volatilememory for temporarily storing the image signal; a monitor fordisplaying the subject image based on the image signal stored in thevolatile memory; a nonvolatile memory for storing the image signal aftersubjecting the image signal stored in the volatile memory to acompressing process; a self-timer photography mode setup unit forenabling a self-timer photography mode; and a controller for repeatedlycausing said electronic image-pickup element to perform a photographyoperation and said monitor to display the subject image while theself-timer photography mode is enabled by means of said self-timerphotography mode setup unit-and for storing the image signal in saidnonvolatile memory in response to a photography initiating instructionsignal input.
 12. The camera according to claim 11, further comprising:an optical finder for viewing a subject.
 13. The camera according toclaim 11, further comprising: a timer for counting a time intervalelapsed from the time when said self-timer photography mode setup unitenables the self-timer photography mode, and wherein said controllerinhibits the repetitive operation when the timer has counted a specifiedtime interval.
 14. The camera according to claim 11, further comprising:a timer for counting a time interval elapsed from the time when saidself-timer photography mode setup unit enables the self-timerphotography mode, and wherein said controller cancels the self-timerphotography mode when said timer has counted a specified time interval.15. The camera according to claim 11, further comprising: a photographymechanism for recording a subject image on a silver-salt film; aninstruction mechanism for initiating an exposure by means of saidphotography mechanism; and a controller for allowing said photographymechanism to initiate an exposure based on an output from saidinstruction mechanism.
 16. The camera according to claim 15, whereinsaid instruction mechanism is a remote control signal reception circuitthat receives a remote control signal from a remote control transmitter.17. The camera according to claim 11, further comprising: a self-timerphotography mode release unit for releasing the self-timer photographymode enabled by said self-timer photography mode setup unit.
 18. Thecamera according to claim 17, wherein said self-timer photography moderelease unit releases the self-timer photography mode upon completion ofone frame of photography in the self-timer photography mode.
 19. Thecamera according to claim 17, wherein said self-timer photography moderelease unit releases the self-timer photography mode when said timerhas counted a specified time interval.
 20. The camera according to claim17, wherein said self-timer photography mode release unit includes anoperation switch for accepting an operator's release instruction andreleases the self-timer photography mode in response to an operation ofthe operation switch.